HI, I had 15 white ducks , they started laying last week ,
Somebody (unknowns to me)put 3 more ducks in with my flock ...2 more white n a brown one . My ducks havent layed eggs all week . I separated the new ducks as they were very neglected and under nourished.Can anyone explain please ? Thankyou .
Farming Friends Forum » Ducks
ducks stopped laying
(27 posts)-
Posted 2 years ago #
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Ducks do take a while to get used to newcomers and don't like change, particularly such a large flock - so they have been upset by the new additions. They will soon adjust and things will get back to normal. As they have only just started laying they must be this years hatch and haven't encountered "other ducks".
I hope the new duck's health improves quickly under your care. Will you keep them? At least the person that dumped them on you realised you will give them a much better life.
Sarah LSarah LPosted 2 years ago # -
Hi Sarah , thankyou for your reply .Yes the ducks are this yrs hatch , i think they are 21weeks old .I have lost count .I have reintroduced the new duclings to the flock this morning .
Paula .Posted 2 years ago # -
Hello Paula,
Have you wormed them? that may be the reason for them being thin and undernourished - as well as underfed of course. You dont want to risk your healthy flock getting worms or any other parasite. May be as well to keep them seperate but so they can all see each other for a few days, with lots of lovely clean water and food.
Good luck
SarahSarah LPosted 2 years ago # -
Hi Sarah ,i wasnt aware i needed to worm Ducks , where do i get wormer ?How often should i worm them ?
PaulaPosted 2 years ago # -
I have never wormed mine but i know a lot of people do and i would if the new ones are in particularly poor condition. You will be able to get some from your vet, or the supplier where you buy your layers pellets will have some.
SSarah LPosted 2 years ago # -
Hi Paula
There is 2 worm treatments available, one is Flubevet and the other is a Verm X one.
I believe the second one is a herbal type.I know that some of the online poultry supplies website would have the Verm X one.
http://www.flytesofancy.co.uk/I hope that is the right website address. Seperating new ducks is always wise for the first five days or so and put them into quarintine as Sarah has said too is always wise and recommended if you are unsure of their health etc..
Best Wishes
LornaPosted 2 years ago # -
Sorry, the website should be http://www.flytesofancy.co.uk/
Lorna.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Hi
I reintroduced new ducklings yesterday , all went well during the day , no probs at all , but last night when i went to put them in house , all hell broke loose , my 15 wouldnt accept others in to the house , as a result they were put in their own.This morning i got 4 eggs , but all were broken .....Why would they break eggs ?
PaulaPosted 2 years ago # -
They wouldnt have broken the eggs deliberately, they probably got trampled in the fracas.
Are these new ducks or ducklings that have been dumped on you? It sounds like both groups need a lot more time to get to know each other.
You may need to have a small house just for the new three or put them in an area on their own at night if its causing this much unsettling. Your ducks are a large flock as I previously said, and they are not used to other ducks. They will take some time to accept them and are doing well already, accepting them during the day.
They will need at least a week to get to know each other and depending on their ages probably a lot longer.
SarahSarah LPosted 2 years ago # -
Hi Sarah , i have them a week yesterday . They are just Ducklings , i think abt 10/12 weeks old , I put them back in their own house last night , and will continue . The eggs were only laid this morning ,as there was nothing there at 11pm , and we let them out at 7am ....Should i leave it another week before i try house them together again ?
PaulaPosted 2 years ago # -
Hi Paula,you have a similar problem to me I had 3 ducks only young and introduced 2 more 2 weeks ago, day time is fine now but bed time is still bad with the original 3 bullying the new girls.
Two nights ago i split the pen in the shed in half and things were better, last night after Sarahs advice i just put a partition in ( sorry forgot to tell you Sarah )the 3 and the 2 settled down well in their own corners last night and this morning the original 3 had moved in with the 2 new girls and were all sleeping together when i got up
Momo xPosted 2 years ago # -
Thanx Mo,
Thats a good idea , im worried as when we try to separate them to get them in , i will cause more stress .
PaulaPosted 2 years ago # -
it is very sad when you see them being bullied isn't it, we all think ducks are these cute little animals that swim and quack, im quickly learning theres alot more to them than that, but they are so sweet most of the time
you can see my post on this its called naughty at bedtime
Momo xPosted 2 years ago # -
I would leave putting them away together at night until they are all together as one flock during the day. This means some of them sleeping together outside for naps with the others.
The ducks become active at dawn so that is when your eggs are getting trampled. They should calm down again if the newbies aren't in there too.
Bed time at this time of year should be between 9 -10.20pm. To encourage them to settle at night to sleep only, I suggest you dont't have any food or water in the house at all.
Rachel (Quax) and I dont have food and water in our sheds and our ducks manage perfectly well with their routines even through the winter, when they have to go to bed by 4pm and are only let out around 7am due to daylight restrictions.Sarah LPosted 2 years ago # -
Sarah im surprised you said no water either,
Momo xPosted 2 years ago # -
Thanx sarah , that is the way we do our ducks , no feed no water at night .How can we avoid stressing either set of ducks by separating them , when they all want to go to the one shed .The ducklings automatically follow the others . .....And we have to physically catch them to separate them , not sure if im making sense , Hope you understand what im tryn to explain ..
Posted 2 years ago # -
Water makes a hell of a mess! Yours are younger Mo and may need a drink or two through the night - certainly no bathing. Night time is sleep time - just like children and dogs :)
I know Sara keeps food and water in her barn but she has a huge area.
In my experience they don't need it. 4-5 months - when they are laying - is old enough to manage.
They are not desperate when they come out if thats what you are wondering and the floor stays dry - just pooey!
SarahSarah LPosted 2 years ago # -
Aha, Just been out to check shed , found an egg , (made my day!) lol...and one of young ducklings swinmming in pond ..(up to this they wudnt go near it , or others wouldnt let her) ....was wondering would i put younger ducks in thir own sheds an hour earlier than i put others away ... try to aviod as much stress as i can?
Pau.laPosted 2 years ago # -
you will find this hard as ducks like to stick together in the main and you will upset the little ones if you try and send them off early. Leave the door of ther house open so they can go in earlier if they want.
My younger pair WILL NOT go into their house if the older ones are still out.Are you on facebook? come and join us at http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=231391&id=699056417&l=33eddd18c2#!/group.php?gid=44523236595&ref=ts
Sarah
Sarah LPosted 2 years ago # -
yes im on facebook......i tried that page u gave me , just got pic.....Paula Brennan Fowler if u can invite me .
Thankyou
Paula.Posted 2 years ago # -
great news, things are getting better already
mo xPosted 2 years ago # -
Sarah whats the group name on facebook?
Paula xPosted 2 years ago # -
NOW IT APPEARS TO BE WORKING http://www.facebook.com/groups/edit.php?members&gid=44523236595#!/group.php?gid=44523236595
Sarah LPosted 2 years ago # -
no luck ..:(
Posted 2 years ago # -
the link isnt copying correctly for some reason.
i have added you as a friend i'll post it on your page but you have to accept me first as i cant post or send you an email :)
sarah lancasterSarah LPosted 2 years ago # -
lovely to see photos of your ducks on facebook farming friends. I hope your new ducks are settling in better now:)
SSarah LPosted 2 years ago #
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